I attended a Sept. 27 Seaside Airport Advisory Committee public meeting. I noticed on the agenda an issue that should concern all Gearhart residents, that of changing the zoning of rural agricultural land inside the Gearhart city limits to an airport development zone that would make the Gearhart zone compatible with Seaside’s airport development zone.

Having served on the airport committee 29 years ago, I am familiar with the airport property. The city of Seaside has 21.26 acres of land inside their city limits. Gearhart has 15.33 acres inside their city limits.

At the Sept. 27 meeting the reason stated was to qualify for FAA funding for improvements to the airport, including lighting to make it safer. The land had to be the same zone. I found the FAA does not mandate this for federal money.

The Gearhart zoning ordinance has no airport development zone. Rather, there is an airport overlay zone. To protect the airport approach and clear zones, the rural agricultural zone was put in place. The FAA recognizes that local governments have the right to implement their own comprehensive plans and zoning laws. Agricultural use of land surrounding the airport meets the criteria.

Seaside Airport Development zone allows uses such as motels, warehouses, shipping agencies, and hangers. Bayview Transit Mix, Four Winds Trailer Park, and Tom Utti’s land on Oster Road are in the airport development zone. Seaside has the right of condemnation if the airport needs additional land for expansion.

In 1993, I worked with the Gearhart City Council, including Mayor Kent Smith and Councilor Ed Tice, to ensure the residents on the east side of Highway 101 would not be affected by airport development. The 1995 airport layout plan adopted by the Seaside City Council could be executed at any time, including a runway extension to Oster Road, provided the zone is changed to airport development.

If the Gearhart Planning Commission considers changing the rural agricultural zone to airport development zone, at the request of the Seaside Airport Advisory Committee and the city of Seaside, I am opposed to the zoning change. Protecting Gearhart residents from airport development is very important for this quiet community.

Deanna Mancill

Gearhart